This app makes your music sound way better when you lower the volume [Giveaway]

Wavelet, a popular equalizer app for Android, has recently introduced a feature that addresses a subtle yet significant issue in audio playback: equal loudness. This new functionality ensures that all frequencies maintain a consistent volume level, enhancing the listening experience, particularly when music is played at lower volumes.

The need for equal loudness

The concept of equal loudness is rooted in research dating back to the 1930s, when scientists Harvey Fletcher and Wilden A. Munson developed the Fletcher-Munson curves. These curves illustrate how humans perceive sound at different frequencies, revealing that lower and higher frequencies often sound quieter compared to midrange frequencies when the volume is reduced. This phenomenon can lead to a noticeable loss of bass and treble clarity in music, especially at lower listening levels.

In 2003, these findings were formalized in the ISO 226 standards document, which provides a framework for understanding how sound pressure levels and frequencies interact in human perception. With the latest update to Wavelet, users can now experience a correction to this imbalance, allowing for a more balanced sound profile regardless of volume adjustments.

How to use equal loudness in Wavelet

The upcoming version 24.05 of Wavelet, currently in beta, introduces an equal loudness mode that preserves the unique sound signature of your music across various volume levels. This innovative feature applies loudness corrections based on the ISO 226 equal-loudness contours, ensuring that low and high frequencies do not diminish disproportionately compared to midrange frequencies.

Setting up the equal loudness feature is straightforward:

1. Download and install the Wavelet app, then complete the setup process.
2. Connect your preferred headphones to your device.
3. Play your favorite music and adjust the volume to your usual listening level.
4. Access the equal loudness feature and toggle it on. You will see a slider to adjust the volume threshold and a visual representation of how frequency loudness will change.
5. Fine-tune the volume threshold slider to the lowest value before the graph begins to dip, ensuring optimal performance.
6. Once set, these adjustments will be saved for your specific headphones, although you will need to repeat the process for different headphone models.

Users have reported an immediate enhancement in their listening experience, particularly with bass clarity, even at reduced volumes. This feature has the potential to transform how music is enjoyed, especially during work or leisure activities.

Wavelet giveaway

In addition to the equal loudness feature, Wavelet offers a suite of audio tuning tools, including AutoEq, a 9-band graphic equalizer, and various sound enhancements. To support ongoing development, some features, including equal loudness, are available through a one-time purchase of the pro version for .99.

To celebrate the launch of this new feature, Wavelet’s developer is hosting a giveaway of 100 promo codes. Interested users can find details on how to participate through social media platforms such as X, Threads, Mastodon, and Telegram. The codes can be redeemed via the Google Play Store, providing an opportunity to explore the app’s full capabilities without cost.